Improvement in mechanism for operating shuttle-boxes op looms



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ARCHIBALD NIMMO, 0F "PHILADELPHIA,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR Y TO HIMSELF AND THOMAS MORAN, OF SAME PLACE. l

Letters Patent N 93,637, dated August 10, 1869.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and maliing part of the same.

a pattern-chain or pattern-wheel and drop -boxes for the shuttles are used; and

My invention consists of mechanism fully described hereafter for determining` the pattern imlependentlyofthe chain, which is employed simply as a device for operating the drop-boxes, in accordance with the pattern determined hy t he controlling-mechanism, the

i latter being such asto increase the capacity of the loom as regards the production of varieties and lextent of patterns.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to lnake and use my inver-miep, I will now proceed to describe its construction 'and operation, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specifica-tion, and in which- Figiue l represents a side View of part of the frame of a loom, with my improvements;

Figure 2, a side View, the reverse of fig. 1;

Figure 3, an end view, looking in the direction of the arrow, fig. l; and Y l Figure 4, a vertical section on the line 1 2, iig. 3.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views. c A represents part of the frame of the loom, and

B, the lower shaftof-the same, from which the pattern-wheels or chains are usually worked.

On this shaft is a cam, a, by which the lever c is actuatedin one direction, while a suitable spring Amoves itin the contrary direction; v

lo this vibrating lever, which is hung tothe frame of the loom, are hinged the pawls b and b', adapted to a ratchet-wheel, D, on a shaft, E, to which an intel'- mittent rotary motion is thus imparted.

On this sha/it is a pinion', I", fearing into a wheel, G, on the shaft H, and on the same shaft E is a small pinion, I, gearing into alarger pinion, J, the teeth of which are adapted to those of the wheel K, the latter being loose on the above-mentioned shaft H, which turns at one end in the frame A, and at the other end in a suitable frame, H', secured tothema-in frame.

The peculiar construction of these wheels and their functions will be explained hereafter.

On the outside of the loom-frame A is an arm, L, the inner end of which is arranged to slide on the shaft B, the outer end heilig adapted to the links ot' the usual endless pattern-chain, which passes over the stud f on the frame, and which is arranged to actuate the shuttle-boxes, in a manner to'owe'll understood to need explanation here.

To this armL is hung a dog, h, so constructed and arrangedthat it can be brought within range of a cam, c, on the shaft B, or can be elevated ii'ce from the range of that cam, in which easevthe movcment'of the arm L, and consequently of the pattern-chain, will cease, but on permitting the dog to fall, the cam-will operate the arlnL, and consequently the pattern-chain.

The mechanism for operating this dog, and consequently for controlling the movements of the chain, form the special features of my invention, and I will therefore proceed to describe tho same.

lo the frame H', and above the wheels and K, are loosely hung two levers, M and M', both of which are connected, near their outer ends, by cords t fi, to one arm of a lever, N, hung to a projection on the frame A, the outer arm of this lever being connected to the above-mentioned dog l1..

Both these levers are so arranged as to be operated by pegs, x, on a flange of the wheel G, but both levers are liever in opera-tion at the same time, the wheel K determining which ofthe levers sha-ll operate and which shall remain quiescent.

On this wheel K, near thc periphery of the same, are two segments, fm. and n, cae-h of which is about semi-circular in the present instance, and on the segment m bears a yokc,j, on the outer lever M, while the yoke k of the inner lever M is arranged to bea-r on the segment u; in other words, the latter segment e serves to support the inner lever M', and the segment m to support the outer lever M, until lthis support, owing to the revolving ofthe wheel K, ceases.

The segments are so arranged, however, that when one ceases to support one lever, and that levcr'consequently becomes the operating-medium owing to' being depressed within range of the pegs fr, the other segment will elevate the other lever and retain it in a quiescent state.

It should be understood that owing to the system of gearing above described, the wheel K revolves at half the speed of the wheel G, in which there are, in the present instance, sixty teeth and sixty holes, for pegs xto operate one lever, and as many holes for the 'operating-pegs vfor the other lever.

llVhen the lever, which is in operation, is elevated by ,a peg, the movement of the pattern-chain and change of shuttles takes place, but as long as the lever remains undisturbed' by the pegs, the same shuttle will continue in operation. When another peg ele-A vates the level', however, another shuttle will go into action and will remain in action, and so on. Y

It will be seen, tlxeretbre,'tliat if one set of pegs bc arranged in a peculiar manner to operate. one lever andthe other set of pegs bcarranged in a different manner tooperatc the other lever, the result will bc a pattern detemnined bythe action of both levers, oneset, but 'in most looms I propose to make the wheel each segment devoted to one lever.

half of this pattern being accomplished by the action of one lever, and when this action ceases the pattern will be continued and completed by the other lever.

It will now be understood that what I have termed the pattern-chain does not in reality determine the pattern, but is simply a device for operating the shuttlc-boxes, the character of the patternbeing determined by the pegged wheel G, and by the wheel K, which controls the levers operatedI by the pegged wheel. v

As one link only of the chain is used for each' change of shuttle, instead of for each revolution ol the lower shait, as in ordinary looms, it will be evident that a short chain may be employed in producing a lengtherred pattern, which pattern, as before remarked, is determined by the wheels and levers described, and' not by the chain.

.In the present instance, I have shown the wheel G as having sixty teeth, and two sets of sixty pegs each large enoughto contain holes for four hundred and eighty pegs in each set. More than two sets of pegs andV two levers may be used, however; for instance, there may be four sets of pegs and four levers, but in this case the lever-controlling wheel K must revolve at 'one-fourth of the rate of the wheel G, and there must be four segments, m and n, on the said wheel K, each segment being in extent one-fourth of the cir",- curnference of the circle with which it coincides, and` As the number of -levers and sets of operating-pegs is increased, a corresponding increase will be eifected in the capacity of the mechanism for prodncingvarieties and extent of pattern.

It will he evident that my invention may be employed in connection with an ordinary patternwheel, with the results described above, and that perforations in the wheel will serve the same purpose pins.

Without confining myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts herein described,

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patenty 1. Two or more levers M M', in combination with a wheel, G, having as many sets of pegs or openings as there are levers, each set being devoted to one lever,

when the levers are rendered operative and inoperativev by the mechanism herein described, or any equivalent to the same, and when the lever which operates is lcaused to control the pattern-chain, all substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with the Wheel G, the lever-controlling wheel K, operating substantially as specified. In tcstimonywlrereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARCHIBALD NIMMO.

Witnesses:

JOHN Wrnrn, HARRY SMr'rH. 

